Taste Buds

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT TASTE BUDS - PAGE 4

CHRISTMAS COOKING: From candle flames to baking treats, the holiday season has its share of perils as well as joys. Be careful when making baked goods that call for vanilla and almond extracts. They contain enough alcohol to poison a child. Recap bottles tightly and put away after using. RETRAIN YOUR TASTE BUDS: Like your muscles, your taste buds can be changed, too. Develop a plan of healthful foods you're willing to try purely for health's sake (fruits and vegetables) and incorporate them gradually into your diet.

Q. Several months ago, I developed a bad taste in my mouth. I reviewed my medicines with my pharmacist, but none had that side effect. My dentist said my teeth were OK and a CT scan of my sinuses didn't find anything either. What do you think could be the cause? --Oro Valley, Calif. A. As is so often the case, treatment of the condition you describe depends on identifying and removing the causative factors. It certainly sounds as though you're doing your detective work. I hope this general information will help you further.

Fear not if your beer has a funk. Though policies vary from store to store, there's a good chance you can get a replacement or your money back. And returns aren't limited to whether the beer is bad. Many will let you return beer if you've overbought or if you find out that strange-sounding Belgian brew doesn't translate well to your taste buds. "You never want to alienate a customer," said Brian Rosen, owner of Sam's Wine in Chicago. "If he's switching from a Bud to a lambic, he's trying to expand his palate, and we want him to nurture and grow that."

Mango con chile nieve de ague : For diners who prefer the savory over the sweet, the mango con chile nieve de ague — or sorbet — has your perfect "scoop" for summer. Served at Azucar, the former street cart turned full-blown ice cream parlor in Little Village, this homemade treat features an icy yet smooth mango sorbet with red crystal-like pieces of crushed chilies swirled across its surface. The mango sorbet gives just enough sweetness without leaving the need to grab your toothbrush and tastes fresh, even though the fruit is blended completely.

I can't believe the management there would let someone in your obviously "taste-disturbed" state write an article trying to push us incredibly brilliant, handsome and all-around crusaders for right and justice off a cliff just because you have lost all your taste buds and couldn't deal with a Diet Pepsi revolution in your refrigerator. I just want you to know there is an army (maybe a little smaller than your evil empire) standing up for our Diet Pepsi. We will NEVER let you win. We call ourselves the Pepsi Special Forces and, although smaller in number, we are stealthy and agile vs. you lumbering Coke drinkers.

IS KNUCKLE CRACKING HARMFUL?: The Arthritis Foundation says habitual knuckle cracking may lead to osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in which joint tissues break down. Researchers theorize that vibration occurs in the joints when they`re cracked, and this stress erodes tissue in and around the joint. Science News reports that molecular neurobiologists have discovered a new protein, gustducin, that seems to exist only in the taste buds and may act as a messenger for bitter-taste signals.

With tongues in cheeks, two writers for the Oakland Tribune came up with the top 10 new health candies for kids in the style of David Letterman's nightly "Top 10" feature. Obviously, Jon Rochmis and Henry Schulman have some growing up to do themselves. Here is their list: 10. Gummy Sprouts 9. Skim Milk Duds 8. Good `n` Broccoli 7. Milky Whey 6. All-you-can-eat prune bar at Chuck E Cheese 5. Carrot drops 4. Salmonettes 3. Whole-wheat fudge 2. Reese's Roughage Cups And (drumroll)

So the Tylenol scare is with us once again. Users panic, saying they don`t know what they will do without the drug. They need to be reminded that Tylenol is merely a brand name of the drug acetaminophen which is also sold under a number of other brand names as well as in its generic form. It is also hard to imagine why users would prefer to continue with this drug in capsule form after the deaths in 1982, or why the manufacturer continued its distribution in that form, when the drug in pill form is just as effective and subject to our taste buds which could serve as a warning if something was amiss.

Carnivale martini : Walking into Carnivale, a Nuevo Latino fusion restaurant, bar, music and dance hall on the Near West Side, is like finding a portal to the Caribbean via Chicago. Guests are ushered into a tropical paradise, starting with the swanky cocktail lounge and leading to a gorgeous interior space for large dinner parties. While the festive cultural experience of Carnivale lends itself to mojitos and margaritas, the restaurant's signature martini goes just as well with ceviche and short ribs.

Minnesota third-base coach Al Newman has had enough nachos to last him a lifetime. But he can't escape them. The smell and the taste of nachos follow him everywhere. "My taste buds and my sense of smell are not in sync," said Newman. "It is weird." On Sept. 10, an hour before suffering a brain hemorrhage, Newman entered the lunch room at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago and fixed himself a small plate of nachos. Somehow, the taste and scent of that meal burned into his brain while he was in a coma.